Lamp-operating mechanism.



A. R. WARFIELD & J. B. NICHOLSON.

LAMP OPERATING MBCHANISM.

APPLIOATION r1LBD'DEo.2s,19oa.

935,437. Patented Sept, 28, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

je" -f A. R. WARFIELD L J. B. NIHLSON.,

LAMP OPERATING MECHANISM,

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 23,1908.

935,437. Patented 561315.28, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

j? @M ff. W74@ UNTEB STATES PATENT ARTEMUS 2e. waerntn Ann JOSHUA B. NrorroLsoN, or WASHINGTON, :DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

LAMP-OPERATING MECHANISM.

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known Vthat we, AnTnMUs R. Yvanifinmn and destina XicnoLsor, citizens of the United States, residing' at Tfvlashing'ton, in the District ot Columbia, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Lamp-Operating' Mechanism, ot which the following' is a description, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, forming a part. hereof.

Our invention relates to such terms ot lamp supporting` and operating' mechanism tor automobiles, street cars, and the like, as are designed to an`ord a support for the la np and at the same time move the lamp in such a manner that the rays ot lig'httherefrom will illuminate the path to be traveled by the vehicle. T his feature is ot importance in travcling in a curved path, or in turning` a corner. at which times it will be obvious that with lamp supporting mechanism not provided with moving means tor the purpose above speciiied the rays ot light trom the lamp would be thrown straight ahead, and would confuse rather than assist the driver in judging' the condition ot the path which the vehicle is to follow.

Our invention relates to improvements in lamp supporting and operating mechanism of the type above set forth; and consists in improved lamp supporting' mechanism designed to permit the lamp to be swung' so that the light theretrom will illuminate the path to be traveled, together with means dependent upon the position assumed by the wheels ot the vehicle for swinging' the lamp. all as shown Vin the acconipanying drawing, described in the following specilicatiou and claimed in the clauses ot the concluding claim.

ln the accompanyingl drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary view showing' the forward end ot an automobile with our device attached thereto, the parts being' shown in elevation, Fig'. 2 is a plan view ot the parts shown in Fig. l, Fig'. 8 is a detail view ot one form ot operating' connection available tor swinging the lamp, Fig. Ll is an enlarged view showing' the lamp supporting' bracket and the support. therefor, Fig'. 5 is an enlarged plan view for the purpose ot illustrating the operation ot our device, the lamp itself and parts of the automobile not necessary to an understamling' ot the device being` omitted, Fig'. 6 is a fragmentary view illus- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led. December 23, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

serial No. 455,944.

trating' a position assumed by the lamp snpporting' member when moved or swung' trom its middle position, Fig'. T is a view illustrating' the same parts in another position, Fig. 8 is a view showing' our device as applied to a street car, Fig'. 9 is a view showing av connection for operating' the lamp diftering trom the connections shown in Figs. l to 7. Fig'. lO is a view showing a cross-scction ot a. hinge member to be hereinafter described and which forms a part et our device; Fig'. ll is a view partly in section and partly in elevation further illustrating said hinge member, and Fig'. l2 is a sectional view ot a ball and socket joint employed in our device.

ln the drawings, l is a portion ot the trame of the automobile, '2 the steering wheel, 3 a` portion ot the trent axle and Je one ot the front wheels. The 'trout wheel l is supported by a stub axle 5 which is pivoted so as to swing' aboutI a vertical axis passing' through a bearing' (3 upon the axle as is usual in automobiles, T is an arm formed integrally with or attached to the stub axle 5, and l0 is a rod through which motion is transmitted trom the steering wheel 2 to the trout w reels. 8 is a rod connected to a second arm 9 formed with or secured to the stub axle 5 and extending' across the tront ot the machine and through which motion is transmitted to the other front wheel not shown.

The parts thus tar described are common to automobiles and form no part ot our invention. These or equivalent parts are also considerably modified and varied in dil'lierenttypes ot autouuiibiles: and it will be understood that our device is apililicable to automobiles irrespective ot' the form oit steering' mechani'sn'i which may be en'xployed, and is in no way dependent upon the type ot steering mechanism present in a given machine to be equipped with our invention.

ll is a bracket secured to the trame l ot the automobile, and l2 is a lamp, two lamps being' ordinarily used upon a given inachine.

13 is a vertically disposed supporting' member for the lamp 12 and H is a yoke secured to the upper end of said supporting' member which yoke embraces and serves as ay direct support tor the lamp l2.

The supporting' member 13 is supported from the trame l ot the automobile by means of the bracket 11, and 15 is a three part hinge member interposed between the bracket 11 and the supporting member 13, the purpose of which is to permit the supporting member 13 and the lamp carried thereby to swing, to thereby project the rays of light from the lamp in the direction of travel of the machine.

The hinge member 15 is similar to and indeed may be the ordinary type of double spring hinge found upon the market and commonly used with doors designed to swing in two directions; and said hinge member comprises a leaf 1G secured to the bracket 11, a. connecting leaf 17 supported by the leaf 1G and adapted to swing about a pivot at 18 whereby the leaves 1G and 17 are connected, and a leaf 19 supported by the connecting leaf 17 and adapted to swing about a pivot at 20 whereby the leaves 1T and 19 are connected.

From the above it will be understood that the lamp supporting member 13 carried by the leaf 19 of the spring member may be swung to each side of its normal middle position, and that the parts will assume extreme positions approximately as shown in Fig. 6 or 7, and that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. G the rays of light will be projected in a direction indicated by the line A. B, and when in the position shown in Fig. 7 in a direction indicated by the line C D; it being understood that the supporting member 13 and the lamp are carried by the leaf 19 of the spring member 15. The spring member 15 is provided with barrels 21, 22 which inclose and protect the springs forming a part of the common form of spring hinge preferably made use of, as will be understood.

The supporting member 13 is swung as above as the forward wheels are moved by the steering mechanism, the arrangement being' such that when the wheels are moved to cause the vehicle to turn to the right the said support is swung so as to throw the rays of light to the right, and vice versa 5 to which end an arm 2st is secured to the lower end of the lamp supporting member 13, and a connecting rod or pitman 25 is provided, the ends of which are connected, respectively, with the end of the arm 24 and with the arm 7 upon the stub axle Motion is, therefore, transmitted from the steering mechanism to the lamp by means of the rod 25.

As the lamp supporting member 13 is supported from the frame 1 of the automobile, and as the frame is supported from the axle through springs, as 26, it will be obvious that the vertical movements of the frame would cause the connecting rod 25 to swing if means were not provided to compensate for this vertical movement. In order, therefore, to avoid the danger of breaking the parts as above stated, the connecting rod 25 is provided with a ball or other form of universal joint, or preferably with two such joints, as shown at 2T, 28. lith such joints it will be obvious that the frame 1 may move vertically with reference to the axle without breaking or straining the connections between the axle and the lamp supporting member.

lVhile we have referred to the lamp supporting member 13 as deriving its motion from an arm 'T upon the stub axle 5, we would point out that said member may derive or receve its motion from any part of the steering mechanism, the only condition necessary being that the connection and arrangement be such that the lamp will be swung in unison with the movement of some part of the steering mechanism, and in a direction such that the rays of light will be projected along the path to be traveled by the vehicle.

le show in Fig. 9 one modification of the connections above described. In this figure 29 is an arm secured to the rod S which extends across the front of the automobile and connects the stub axles, and 30 is a connecting rod connecting said arm with an arm 31 upon the lower end of the supporting' member 13, whereby said member 13 is swung the same as in the form of our device previously described. In this form of connection the arm 31 is projected forward in order that the lamp and wheel will swing in the same direction. This, however, is a matter of adjust ment, and the direction taken by such arm will vary considerably, and will depend in each instance upon the type of steering mechanism found upon a machine to which our device is to be attached and upon the location and direction of motion of the part of the steering mechanism to which the operating connection for the lamp is to be attached. Our device is also applicable to street cars as indicated in Fig. 8. In this figure 32 is the body of the car, and 33 its truck. Motion is transmitted from the truck 33 through a rod 31 to a lamp 35 placed upon the front of the car; the supporting mechanism for the lamp including a three part hinge member the same as has been above described.

Having thus described our invention, and explained the mode of operation thereof, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a device of the class described, a lamp supporting member; a bracket; a three part hinge member interposed between said bracket and said lamp supporting member, two of the parts of said hinge member being secured, respectively, to said lamp supporting member and to said bracket, and the third part of said hinge member forming a connection between, and to which each of said first mentioned parts are piroted at points apart from one another; means for swinging said lamp supporting member; and a spring cooperating with said hinge member and acting in opposition to the motion transmitted to said lamp supporting member.

2. In a device of the class described, a bracket adapted to be secured to an autoincbile or similar Vehicle; a hinge member secured to said bracket; a lamp supporting member; a hinge member secured to said lamp supporting member, a connecting member interposed between and serving to connect said two first mentioned hinge members and piyoted to each, the arrangement of the parts being such that said two first mentioned hinge members will lie upon either side of' and extend parallel with said connecting member when the parts are in their normal position; t-wo springs, one acting upon each of said two first mentioned hinge members to maintain them in closed condition parallel with said connecting member; and means for swinging said lamp supporting member about the pivots of said hinge mechanism.

B. In an automobile or similar vehicle, a frame; a bracket secured to said frame; a lamp supporting member; an arm secured to the lower end of said lamp supporting member; a three-part hinge member interposed between said b acket and said lamp supporting member, two of' the parts of said hinge member being secured, respectively, to said lamp supporting member and to said bracket, and the third part of said hinge member forming a connection between, and to which each of said first mentioned parts are pivoted at points apart from one another; a spring coperating with said hinge member and acting in opposition to the motion transmitted to said lamp support-ing member; and a rod connecting an element of the steering mechanism of the automobile with the arm upon the lower end ot said lamp supporting member and through which the lamp supporting member may be swung to each side of its normal central position.

4. In an automobile or similar Vehicle, a frame; a bracket secured to said frame; a hinge member secured to said bracket; a lamp supporting member; a hinge member secured to said. lamp supporting member; an arm secured to the lower end of said lamp supporting member; a connecting member interposed between and serving to connect said hinge members and pivoted to each, the arrangement of the parts being such that said two first mentioned hinge members will lie upon either side of and extend parallel with said connecting member when the parts are in their normal position; two springs, one acting upon each of said two first mentioned hinge members to maintain them in closed condition parallel with said connecting member; steering mechanism for said automobile; and a rod connecting an element of said steering mechanism with the arm upon the lower end of said lamp support-ing member and through which the lamp supporting member may be swung to each side of its normal central position.

5. In an automobile or similar Vehicle, a frame; a bracket secured to said frame; a hinge member secured to said bracket; a lamp supporting member; a hinge member secured to said lamp supporting member; an arm secured to the lower end of said lamp supporting member; a connecting member interposed between and serving to connect said hinge members and pivoted to each, the arrangement of the parts being such that said two firstmentioned hinge members will lie upon either side of and extend parallel with said connecting member when the parts are in their normal position; two springs, one acting upon each of said two first mentioned hinge members to maintain them in closed condition parallel with said connecting member; steering mechanism for said automobile including a stub axle; an arm secured to said stub axle; an operating member connecting said arm with the arm upon the lower end of said lamp supporting member and through which the lamp support-ing member may be swung to each side of its normal central position; and a plurality of universal joints included in said operating member.

6. In an automobile or similar Vehicle, a frame; a bracket secured to said frame; a lamp supporting member; an arm secured to the lower end of said lamp supporting member; a three-part hinge member interposed between said bracket and said lamp supporting member, two of the parts of said hinge member being secured, respectively, to said lamp supporting member and to said bracket; and the third part of said hinge member forming a connection between, and to which each of said first mentioned parts are pivoted at points apart from one another; a spring cooperating with said hinge member and acting in opposition to the motion transmitted to said lamp supporting member; steering mechanism for said automobile including a stub axle; an arm secured to said stub axle; and a rod connecting said arm with the arm upon t-he lower end of said lamp supporting' member and through which the lamp supporting member may be swung to each side of its normal central position.

This specification signed and witnessed this nineteenth day of December, A. I). 1908.

ARTEMUS R. 1V ARFIELD. JOSHUA B. NICHOLSON. In the presence of E. H. PaRxINs, R. N. FLIN'r. 

